'''Will Whitfoot''' was the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] (and therefore of the [[Shire]]) at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]. He was renowned as being the fattest hobbit in the [[Westfarthing]], and was affectionately referred to as "'''Old Will'''" or "'''Old Flourdumpling'''", perhaps because he emerged from the Town Hole covered in chalk after its roof collapsed. He was one of the first to be placed in the [[Lockholes]] after protesting when [[Sharkey]] established [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]] as puppet ruler of the Shire. Fortunately he survived the experience.

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{{hobbit

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| image=[[File:Storn Cook - Will Whitfoot.jpg|250px]]

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| name=Will Whitfoot

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| othernames=Flourdumpling

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| birth=

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| death=

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| parentage=

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| location=[[Michel Delving]]

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| gender=Male

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|}}

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'''Will Whitfoot''' was the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] during the [[War of the Ring]].

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==History==

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Whitfoot was elected Mayor at the [[Free Fair]] late in the [[Third Age]], at least as late as {{TA|3013}}.<ref group=note>The date is not given by [[Tolkien]], but is suggested as possible by [[Robert Foster]]. Since the Free Fair is septennial, Will must have been Mayor since the last Fair before {{TA|3020}} (3020-7={{TA|3013|n}}). However, as we are not told that was his first term, it's possible that he might already been serving since {{TA|3006}} or even earlier. See {{HM|Guide}}, p. 428, entry "Will Whitfoot".</ref>

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He was renowned as being the fattest hobbit in the [[Westfarthing]], and was affectionately referred to as "Flourdumpling" after he emerged from the collapse of the [[Town Hole]] covered in chalk.<ref>{{FR|I9}}</ref>

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He was one of the first victims of the new rule of [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]] and [[Sharkey]]. He went to protest Lotho's taking down trees, but was apprehended by [[Ruffians]] on his way to [[Bag End]]. He was locked up in the [[Lockholes]], and Lotho usurped his title.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> He was freed after the [[Battle of Bywater]], but was at first unfit for duty as Mayor, so [[Frodo Baggins]] served as Deputy Mayor.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> He was officially restored as Mayor on the next Free Fair, on [[Midyear's Day]] of {{SR|1420}}.<ref name="Later">{{App|Later}}</ref>

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Will Whitfoot resigned in {{SR|1427}}, and was succeeded by [[Samwise Gamgee]].<ref name="Later"/>